Here is the first full-length biography of a much maligned but astonishingly colourful Queen of England.

In Newgate Street, in the city of London, stand the meagre ruins of Christ Church. On the same site once stood a royal mausoleum set to rival Westminster Abbey in the 14th century. Among the many crowned heads buried there was Isabella of France, Edward II's queen - one of the most notorious femme fatales in history. But how did she acquire her evil reputation? And is it justified? Alison Weir's engrossing biography sets out to put the record straight. Download and start listening now!

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Listener Opinions

Donna | 2/14/2014

" When I read for pleasure, I rarely pick up non-fiction, but this one was worth my time. This is painstakingly researched and I am sure there is no more that can be written about Queen Isabella. Weir has documented even the smallest details - like how much she spent on her household and how many times she traveled to the shrine of St. Thomas a'Becket (22). Along with Isabella, there is more information on her husband, Edward II, renowned not only for his bad reign, but for his ignominious death. Weir's conclusions and her proof of what actually happened are compelling. It's nice to know that Isabella, though avaricious and powerful, wasn't as bad as what everyone less informed seems to think. Enjoyed the book, learned a lot. "

Michelle Huggins-boyea | 2/14/2014

" I found this book exceptionally in depth and extremely interesting. Love reading about medieval women who broke the mold! "

Joyce | 2/13/2014

" A multi-sided view of the reputed She-Wolf of England. I like that she actually gives facts and doesn't always rely on books written on her by Victorian idealistic writers or take the words of a male of period with total trust. She looked things up, and researched the thing. I like it much. "

Kris Veches | 1/29/2014

" Well written. Isabella is the most maligned of the English Queen Consorts. This book implies that that may not be fair. In my opinion, this book seems to be a generally fair assessment of her life. We often times judge things that happened years ago against the light of modern times and that is not OK. She was a really incredible woman in the time that she lived. My primary complaint is in regard to referencing people by their titles as well as their given names...I have a hard time keeping them all in line and would prefer that authors use one or the other. "

Luci | 1/28/2014

" After completing this biography, one can get the sense that Weir obviously enjoyed the subject matter and has some definite opinions regarding Queen Isabella. However, while her arguments regarding Isabella as a negotiator are compelling, she tends to back away from the "ugly" side of Isabella's relationship with the man that helped her to bring down the king, her lover, Roger Mortimer. Yes, Isabella's adulterous affair might be less criticized today, but this queen allowed herself to be taken over by Mortimer. Weir does not address this issue head on, and seemingly backs away from being critical of her subject. The book as a whole is very interesting, written almost like a novel, but it is at the end, when examining the end result of Isabella's affair, that one can see that Weir does not want to criticize her hero. Having sympathy for one's subject is one thing, but she loses her objectivity at the end. "

Alice Palmer | 1/18/2014

" Erm not as good as the fiction. I find all the describing and facts a little overwhelming. "

Nancy | 1/17/2014

" This is a fascinating biography about the queen of Edward II. Isabella is usually portrayed as evil in carnate, but it seems a lot of the "facts" that most of us believe/were taught about Edward II's reign and life are fictitious. Weir's biography is well-researched and she sites many historic documents and sources, yet it's not at all dry or boring. "

Martye Jeffords | 1/15/2014

" Biography - became very tedious reading at times. Weir cites her sources constantly & even though I happen to be familiar with the history of this period in English history, I found her writing confusing to follow. "

Candace | 12/16/2013

" A history book that also contains a bit of a mystery! "

Lisa | 12/13/2013

" It's been a while since I read this, but I know I loved it! I love anything by Alison Weir. "

Elysa | 12/2/2013

" Interesting story. well told. LOTS of detail about which lord benefited when and why. Information that I couldn't all absorb. "

Nikki | 5/29/2013

" Well-written and as well documented as you can be from the period. She does give Isabella a bit of a walk, but considering how badly she has been abused by other writers, Isabella might deserve a break. "

Cathlyn | 1/30/2012

" Another great book by Alison Weir about a royal queen beset by an inept husband whose homosexuality and flagrant bestowals of royal favor nearly unravel England. "

yizhou | 6/26/2011

" this book is a permanent presence on my nightstand because it helps me on those tormented and sleepness nights. "

Jaynee Levy-Polis Levy-Polis | 6/7/2011

" This is a history of Queen Isabella and her times. It's not conversational history, but close to it. "

Joyce | 4/2/2011

" A multi-sided view of the reputed She-Wolf of England. I like that she actually gives facts and doesn't always rely on books written on her by Victorian idealistic writers or take the words of a male of period with total trust. She looked things up, and researched the thing. I like it much.
"

Alanna | 3/20/2011

" Great book. Very interesting but I enjoyed reading "the Six Wives of Henry VIII" more than this book.
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Alice | 2/23/2011

" Erm not as good as the fiction. I find all the describing and facts a little overwhelming.
"

Delilah | 2/20/2011

" Only a couple of chapters in. This is more an academic book then a fun read.
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Elysa | 1/15/2011

" Interesting story. well told. LOTS of detail about which lord benefited when and why. Information that I couldn't all absorb.
"

Laura | 12/11/2010

" Alison Weir isn't the most exciting historical writer but she's one of the most accurate. A very good biography of a period very few know about in England.
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Nick | 11/2/2010

" This was a great read about a powerful, often misjudged woman. The nonsense she had to endure was incredible. Very well written and researched.
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Kari | 10/17/2010

" Alison Weir does a fantastic job recounting Isabella's life. She is very detailed and thorough in her research. Yet, the book reads like a novel.
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Tracy | 8/16/2010

" Has that much changed hundreds of years later for ambitious women? In some ways, yes. In some ways, not so much. Fascinating story.
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Other Titles by Alison Weir:

About the Author

Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Innocent Traitor and The Lady Elizabeth and several historical biographies, including Mistress of the Monarchy and The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

About the Narrator

Lisette Lecat began her career in her native South Africa, where she had stage roles and did extensive radio and voice-over work both commercially and for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Living in Spain, England, and the United States, she did a wide range of voice-over work in three languages. She has won fourteen AudioFile Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for best female solo narration.

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